Metal plating machine



Nov. 28, 1933. A. w. RITTER METAL PLATING MACHINE Filed July 3, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 ZII LXAM! Nov. 28, 1933. A. w. RITTER METAL PLATING MACHINE Filed July 1930 6 SheetsSheet 2 Nov. 28, 1933. A w r METAL PLATING MACHINE Filed July 3, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 gnaw ntoz duo: u: 11

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Nov. 28, 1933. A. w. RITTER METAL PLATING MACHINE Filed July 3, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 28, 1933. A. w RITTER 1,937,359

METAL PLATI NG MACHI NE Filed July 3, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 28, 1933. A w. RITTER 1,937,359

METAL PLATING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1950 e Sheets-Sheet 6 i Q Patented Nov. 28, 1933 r Y umrsh STATES PATENT OFFICE METAL PLATING MACHINE Albert William Bitter, New Haven, Conn., assignor to Sargent & Company, New Haven, .Conn.

Application July 3, 1930. Serial No. 465,625

23 Claims. (C1. 204-5) This invention relates to metal plating main an improved work-holding arm and other feachines and more especially to a device compristures which will appear as the description. pro: ing a support or framework upon which may ceeds. I be supported a number of tanks containing the To these and other ends, the invention consists plating solutions and provided above these tanks in the novel features and combinations of parts with a carrying mechanism designed to transto be hereinafter describedand claimed. port the articles to be plated through the tanks, In the drawings: to automatically raise them from one tank Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the driving end of and immerse them into a solution in the followmyimproved plating machine;v

' 9 ing tank, or to hold them in raised positions so Fig. 2 is a similar view of the driven end of that any given tank or tanks may be skipped or the machine; 1

' passed over as desired. The traveling mecha- Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the parts nism as shown is supported on suitable frames shown in Fig. 1; carried by upright standards rising from the Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the parts 1 T support or base so that the device is a comshown in Fig. 2;

plete self-contained unit. Fig. is a side elevational view of a portion The device disclosed in the present appliof the machine between-the ends-thereof; cation is arranged particularly for use in electro- Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view on lines plating operations, and represents improvements 66 of Fig. 5;

over and additions to the plating mechanism Fig. 7 is an enlarged view partly in section of shown in Patent No. 963,817 granted to John the transporting and skipping mechanism; H. Shaw, July 12, 1910, and is adapted to be Fig. 8 isa detailed view showing the racks for used for the same general purposes as the maraising and lowering the work carriers;

chine shown in that patent. Fig. 9 is a sectional view on lines 9-9 of 1 One object of my invention is the production Fig. 8; of a simple and efficient electro-plating ma- Fig. 10' is a sectional view on lines 10-10 of chine for automatically immersing the articles Fig. 8; to be electro-plated in the various baths, trans- Fig. 11 is an enlarged view-of the cathode bus porting them through the baths and extracting bar and the clamp for the same;

them therefrom for transfer to other baths. Fig. 12 is a sectional view showing a modified raised position for a predetermined time so porting memb 12 Such as angle irons A further object of the invention is the proform of work-carrying arm,-and vision of a new and improved plating apparatus Fig. 13 is anenlarged sectional view on lines having means for supporting the tubs contain- 7 1313 of Fig. 1. l ing the plating solutions and. means for trans- The device which I have selected to illustrate 1 porting the articles throu'ghthese solutions. and describe as a preferred embodiment of my A still further object of the invention is the invention compr a lower base pp 10 provision of means to, automatically extract the which may conveniently be formed of spaced articles from the bath by raising them above angle irons 11, upon which are mounted to ex,- the level of the solution and to hold them in tend in transverse direction a number of supthat any given bath or baths may be passed like which, as shown in Fig. 6, extend outwardly over Without dipping the articles therein or to from the center of the machine to supp maintain the article holders in raised position tubs or vats 13 designed to contain the plating u so that the articles to be plated may be consolution. v 40f veniently placed upon or removed from the Upon these tubs or vats are mounted clamps holders. 7 14 to support the anode bus bars 15 from which A still further object of the invention is the are suspended anodes 16 which extend into the provision of an adjustable end section of the solution in the tubs. It will be understood that apparatus whereby the carrying chain may be the anodes 16 are sectional, the sections being kept in taut condition. substantially the length of the tubs or vats and Still other features reside in the construction the adjacent ends of the sections are connected of the skipping mechanism whereby it may be together so that they may readily be detached. brought into or thrown out of action readily and Any one or more of the tubs may, therefore, be conveniently, in an improved track mechanism pulled out of place if it is. not desired to use upon which the work holders are supported. them, by simply disconnecting the ends of. the

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\ bers having rack teeth 31.

understood that separate electrical connections are made to each of the sections so that one vat may be removed without interrupting the current through the others and also in order that the individual control of the electric current through the various baths may be provided. Rising upwardly from the base portion of the machine along the center line thereof, are a number of standards 18, upon the upper ends of which are mounted suitable frames 19 designed to support the transporting mechanism which will be described hereinafter. These frames 19 are also connected together by means of a channel iron or other runner 17 which extends longitudinally or" the machine adjacent the upper part thereof so as to secure the frames 19 and standards 18 rigidly together.

At each side of each of the frames 19 issecured a bracket or arm 20, the end of each of these arms projecting outwardly and supporting the cathode bus bars 21 which as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 extend continuously along both sides and aboutone end of the machine. This bus bar is insulated from the arms 20 by pieces of insulation 22, the bar and insulation being clamped in the seat 23 at the end of the arm 20 by means of the clamping jaw 24, held in place by the screw 25. The bus bar 21 is circular in cross-section and like the anode bar 15 is made up of a number of sections, the sections being insulated from each other as shown at 26 so that the quantity of current passing through each section may be regulated.

Upon the brackets 20 is supported a suitable track consisting of an angle iron member hav ing a' horizontal portion 28 secured to the bracket and a vertical portion 29 designed to support sheaves or rollers carried by the transporting mechanism. It will be apparent by referring 'to Figs. 1 and 2, that these tracks terminate at the end sections of the machine, that is, they donot extend around the curved ends of the device, the carrier mechanism being supported and guided by other means at these points.-

Secured at spaced points along the vertical portion 29 of the track member are rack men-- These rack mem bers may be and preferably are divided into two sections, as shown, for example, in Figs. 5 and 8,. one of these sections 30 being secured to the track and the other of the sections 30* being vertically adjustable with relation to the track for a purpose to be hereinafter described. This adjustment of the rack members 39* is obtained in the following manner: The members themselves are provided with a web section 32 to abut the portion 29 of the track, this web being provided with slots 33 to receive the clamping bolts 34 passing through the track section '29. At its lower portion the rack section 30 rests upon a block 35 provided with a central slot 36 within which is disposed a cam member 3'7 carried by a lever 38, the lever being pivoted on a bolt 39 secured in a block 40 secured to the track portion 28, by means of the bolts 11. A pair of depending cars 42 and 43 are secured to the block 35, these ears being provided with openings 44 to receive a pin 45 mounted in the lever. 38 to secure this lever in adjusted position.

. Itwill be apparentfroin reference to Figs. 8 to 10 inclusive, that when the lever 38 is in the position shown in Fig. 8, the large portion sections of the anode bus bars. It will also be.

of the cam will be disposed below the pivot 39 and the rack portion 30* will be in its lower position as shown in this figure with its teeth below those of the adjacent rack section 30*. If it is desired to raise the section 30 'so that it will form a continuous rack with the section 36 the pin 45 is removed from the opening 44 and the lever 38 revolved in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 8 through an angle of 189, the pin 45 then entering the opening 44 in the ear 43. The large portion of the cam is now above the pivot 39 and the block 35 will have been raised, thereby raising the section 30* to the level of the adjacent rack section. It will be understood, of course, that prior to the manipulation of the lever 38, the nuts of the clamp ing bolts 34 will be loosened so as to permit the rack section to be moved upwardly on these bolts and after the operation is completed the nuts will be again tightened.

Upon theend sections of the machine as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, are mounted sprocket wheels 51 and 52 around which is trained a carrier chain 53, .the sprocket wheels having teethfi l which in this instance enter into the alternate links of the chain. Upon the links of this chain 53 are carried at intervals a number of work-supporting arms which are designed to carry racks or the like upon which the work or articles to be plated may be carried. The number of these arms and the associated supporting mechanism will, of course, be varied as desired, and as the structure of all is identical, one only will be described.

With reference to Figs. 2, 6 and 7, it will be apparent that the sprocket wheels 51 and 52 are of the proper diameter to support the chain in a position substantially directly over the track sections 29. A yoke member 55 is secured at the under side of one of the links of the chain by means of a clamping plate 56 which spans the sides of the link above the same and is secured to the yoke. This yoke is provided with journals 5'7 and 58 within which are mounted oilless graphite impregnated bearing sleeves 59 and 60. A shaft 61 is.rotatably mounted within these sleeves and a sheave or roller 62 is fixedly secured to this shaft by means of the set screw 63. One end of this haft is extended and shown at 64 and upon this extended end a work support arm 65 is rotatably mounted bymeans of an oilless graphiteimpregnated bearing sleeve 66. A collar 67 secured upon the shaft by a set screw 68 serves to hold the arm in place. Formed integrally with the arm 65 is a pinion 69, this pinion being disposed in the proper plane so that its teeth will mesh with those of the racks 30. i

The arm 65 upon its free end is provided with a transverse pin or lug 70 upon one end of which is mounted a grooved roller '71 to carry the worksupporting member '72 to the end of which may be secured the work rack '73. The pin or lug 70 also projects from the other or inside of the arm 65 as shown at 74, the purpose of which will be described hereinafter.

The sheave or roller 62 is provided with a peripheral groove 62 within which is receive: the track portion 29 so that the sheave will ride upon be supported and guided by the track. It will be noted that this sheave is secured to the shaft 61 which rotates within the yoke 55 and that the arm 65 is rotatably supported upon the shaft so that the latter rotates independently of arm 65.

Projecting. from the upper corners of the brackets 19, are lugs '76 to which are secured plates '77,

which plates in turn carryangle iron guides'78 secured to the plates by means of bolts '19. The bolts '79 pass through elongated slots in the plates so that the guides'78 may be adjusted within limits transversely of the machine. Rollers 81 are rotatably mounted upon pins 82. which pins are secured in the yokes 55, these rollers bearing against the vertical portion. of the angle iron guides '78. Referring to Fig. 6 it will be observed that the work-carrying members '72 bear against the cathode bus bars 21 to carry the current through the work. As these bus bars are usually made of copper or brass and are therefore relatively soft and subject to wear, it is desirable that the friction between these bars'and the members '72 be adjusted so that while'good contact is made the wear on the bars'will not be excessive. This adjustment is made possible by the provision of adjustment for the guides '78, as the movement of this guide in or out with relation to the bracket 19 tends to swing the yoke 55 and shaft 61 about a horizontal axis, and therefore moves the roller '71 outwardly or inwardly with respect to the bus bar 21. The member 72 is suspended loosely from the roller '71 so that it is always maintained in a depending position regardless of the position of the arm 65, the mem ber '72 tending to hang vertically from the roller. The guides '78 extend entirely along the sides of the machine but terminate short of the rounded ends thereof as do the track members 29.

At the driving and driven ends of the machine where the work carriers are turned through an angle of 180 around the sprockets 51 and 52,

the tracks 29 and guides '78 are omitted as has already been described and the carrier chain is at these points supported by its engagement with the teeth of the sprocket wheels.- The carrier yokes are, however, guided so as to be maintained in the proper positions with respect to a vertical plane by means of arcuate guides 84 and 85 secured to the machine frame. These guides bear against the side faces of the rollers or sheaves 62.

Under ordinary conditions'the sheaves do not turn in their travel about the ends of the machine but merely slide along the outer surfaces of the guides at and 85.

As shown more especially in Figs. 6 and'l, ,a support 8'7 is secured at the upper portion of certain of the brackets19, these supports carrying horizontal sleeves 88 and 89, within which are slidably mounted pins 90 and 91, these pins being provided on their outerends with elongated rests or supports 92 and 93 (see Fig; 5), which supports when in extended position as shown in Fig. '7, and at the right of Fig. 6, lie'in the plane of the projecting end '74 of the pin '70. The pins 90 and 91 are adjustable in the sleeves 88 and 89 and are provided with stops 94 to limit this adjustment. Set screws 95 are provided to secure the pins in adjusted position. When they are at their inner positions as shown at the left hand side of Fig. 6,'the elongated rest or supports 92 and 93 are no longer in position to engage the ends '74 and these rests are at that time inoperative. These restsmay be placed wherever desired upon the machine and due to the fact that is usually desirable about the driving end of the machine where ordinarily the finished'work will be. removed from the work holders and new racks carrying articles to be plated will be placed thereupon. For this purpose, therefore, a rest or support 96 substantially semi-circular in shape is provided at the driving end of the machine as shown in Fig. 1, this rest being adjustably secured to the rest 92 by means of the slotted plate 9'7 and bolts 98. vided with downwardly curved discharge ends 99 to guide the work-carrying arms as they are be ing lowered.

- The driven sprocket 52 as shown in Fig. 4 is rotatably mounted upon a fixed standard 100 at the driven end of the machine, while the driving sprocket 51 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 is mounted upon an end frame adjustable with respect to the lower base stringers 11. This frame comprises a lower substantially rectangular portion, having transverse members 101 and longitudinal. members 102, an upright standard103 secured to the rectangular portion and held in place by braces 10%, the rectangular base being slidable upon the stringers 11 and secured thereto by bolts 185.

.At the upper end of the standard 103 is a shelf 10 6 upon which is mounted a gear box 10'? within which is mounted suitable reduction gearing (not shown) between the shaft of a pulley 108 and a pinion 109 secured to a vertical shaft 110' extending upwardly from the gear box. The teeth of the pinion 110 are in mesh with a gear 111 provided on the external periphery of a skirt or apron 112 secured at the lower side of the driving sprocket 51 which is rotatably mounted at the upper end of standard 103. The pulley 103 is driven by a belt'113 from a motor 114 supported by certain of the transverse angle irons 12. Between the standard 103 and the adjacent standard 18 are The racks 92 and 93 are prothe'angle iron 102, which forms the longitudinally extending portion of the rectangular en frame of the driving sprocket. v

necessary to make such adjustment from time to time, due to the wear or" the parts under operat ing conditions.

In Fig. 12 of the drawings I have shown another form of work support which has been found to be particularly desirable in certain instances. this case the arm 65 which is used instead of the arm 65, shown in the other figures of the drawings, is provided at its lower end witha pin 120 upon which is rotatably mounted an arm support 121 having depending therefrom a pin 122. Upon the lower end of this pin is rotatably mounted a collar 123 by means of a ball or like bearing 124, the collar 123 being open at its lower end so as to threadedly receive a holder 125 for a, work-supporting hook 126. Upon the end of the pin 120 In T adjust the is mounted a leaf spring 127, the free end of which bears against the pin 122 to resiliently urge the collar 123 against the'cathode bus bar 21.

As a result of this construction'it will be seen that the collar 123 is free to rotate upon the bearing 124 relatively to the pin 122 and the movement of this collar along the bus bar 21 by the chain 53 will effect the rotation of this collar and thereby effect the rotation of the work or articles to be plated within the bath. This continual movement of the work will result in the applica tion of a more nearly even coat of material.

The operation of my device is as follows:

It will be obvious that when the motor 11 is placed in operation, the chain 53 is put in motion by the driving sprocket 51. This causes the yokes 55 to be carried about the tracks 29 and to move with them the work-carrying arms 65. If these work-carrying arms are in the lower position shown at the left of Fi 6, the work or arti les to be plated will be dippedinto the plating solution and the current being compl ted by the workcarrying members 72 contacting with the cathode bus bars 21, the plating operation will begin. When the material reaches the end of one vat or tank or the partition between two adjacent tanks, the teeth or" the gear 69 will mesh with those of a rack 30 which has been properly positioned with relation to tanks. If this rack 20 is a continuous one as shown in Fig. 4, or if it comprises a pair of racks 30 and 30 as shown in Fi 5, the teeth of which, however, have been placed in alignment to constitute one rack, the gear 69 will be rotated through substantially a complete revolution raising the arm 55 and the workcarrying member so that the work removed from the solution and carried above the partition between the tanks after which it will be lowered into the next tank. It will be seen that the direction of the work at the beginning and at the end of the rotating movement is opposite to that of the movement of the chain 53 so that the work will be permitted to travel through substantially the full length or" a preceding tank and will be lowered into the adjace: end of the succeeding tank so as to travel substantially through the full length of this tank.

If, however, it is desired to hold the work elevated for any reason such as to skip one or more of the tanks, one of the track members 92 or 93 is moved outwardly through its sleeve 88 or 89 into theposition shown at the right hand side of 6 and the section 30* of the track isdropped to inoperative position as shown at the right hand side of Fig. 5. The gear 69 will no longer be rotated through a complete revolution as the number of teeth on the rack section 38 are sufficient only to move it into such a position that the projecting portion 7 or the pin '20 on the end of the arm 65 will engage and ride upon the rest 93 as shown in Figs. 5 and 7 and at the right hand side of Fig. 6.

The work will now be carried in this position until the teeth of the gear 69 mesh with the teeth of the next rack section se which will be properly positioned with respect to the partition between two adjacent tanks and with respect to the end 99 of the rest 93 so that the work will again be lowerec so as to be immersed in the plating solution or rinsing solution as the case may be.

It will, of course, be obvious that, if it is not desired to skip any of the tanks, a full length rack 30 may be used as shown in Fig. 4. It is desirable, however, to have the racks formed sectionally as shown in Fi 5, particularly in view of the fact that one of the two sections or" each rack may be placed in or out of operative position so that it may act as a full length rack simply to raise the work holder over the end of the tank and immerse the work into the next tank, or as a rack section to raise the work arm to the position in which it will be caught by the rest 93 and car 'ied along above the tanks.

It has been observed that a rest 96 of semicircular form is provided at the driving end of the machine. It is convenient to station the operator at this point to remove the plated articles from the work holders and place new ones thereon. This operation will be carried out much more conveniently when the work holders are in raised position and hence it has been founddesirable to maintain them in this position as they a:e traveling about the end of the machine and usually no plating will be done at this point.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that it is not to be limited to all or" the details shown, but is capable of modification and variation within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A metal plating .machine comprising a frame, standards on said frame, a track supported by said standards and extending lengthwise of the machine, article-carrying means mounted on said track comprising a yoke member, a shaft mounted in the arms thereof, a roller mounted on said shaft and having flanges embracing the sides of track, and a swingable arm carried by said shaft, means to move said article-carrying means along said track, a vertically disposed shaft on said yoke member, a roller on said shaft, and a guiding flange on the rame to cooperate with the roller and adjustable transversely of the frame.

A plating machine comprising a frame, a track supported upon the frame, an ar ticle-carrying men 1b,, mounted to move along track, a swingable arm supported by said member to support the work to be plated, a guide member above the track, and a roller mounted on a vertical axis on said article-carrying member to cooperate with said guide member in main taining the article-carrying member in proper position.

3. A metal plating machine comprising a frame, a track supported upon th frame, an ar ticle-carrying member mounted to move along said track, a swingable arm supported by said member to support he work to be plated, aguide above the track, and means secured to said article-carrying member to cooperate with points therealong, brackets carried by said stand" '2 ards at each side th reof, tracks supported by said brackets each SLdQ of the standards, sprocket wheels at each nd of the frame and having an endless chain trained thereover to move above said tracks, article carrying means carried by said chain, and rollers carried by said means sup ported from sail tracks below the chain, and guiding means above said chain to maintain the upper portion of earr ng means in proper position, said guid --g mealmounted on a vertical axis on said article-carrying means, and a guide flange cooperating with the roller,

5. .In a metal plating mechanism, a work holder, a travelling rotary member adapted to raise '5 iii?- comprising a roller I.

and lower the holder uponthe rotation of said member, and. means to retain said member in raised position during its travel, said means being adjustable into and out of operative position.

6.; In a plating mechanism, a work holder, 2. rotary member adapted to travel horizontally above a bath and upon its rotation to raise or lower said work holder, and means to engage below a part of said rotary member when the latter is in raised position and retain itin such position during the horizontal travel of said member.

7. In a clipping mechanism, a travelling car-=.

rier, a rotary member carried thereby, a work holder carried by said-rotary 'member, said rctary member being adapted to raise and lower the work holder during its rotation, means to effect a partial rotation of said rotary member to move the work holder to raised position, means to retain the latter in said position, and means to effect the completion of the rotation of the work holder to lower the work when the holder is released by the retaining means.

' 8. In a dipping mechanism, a travelling carrier, a series of rotating members associated with said carrier, work holders carried by said rotary members and designed to be raised and lowered thereby, means to effect the rotation of said rotary members individually to raise and lower the work holders, means to retain certain of said work holders in raised position, comprising a member engaging below a part of the work holder and said member being movable transversely of the mechanism to non-engaging position.

9. In a dipping mechanism, a travelling car rier, a series of rotating members associated with said carrier, work holders carried by said rotary members and designed to be raised and lowered thereby, means to effect the rotation of said rotary members individually to raise and lower the work holders, means to retain certain of said work holders in raised position, and said means being adjustable into and out of operative position.

10. In a dipping mechanism, a travelling carrier, a work holder, a member movably associated with said carrier and adapted to raise and lower the work holder, and means on the frame cooperating with said movable member to effect the movement thereof, said means being adjustable to eifect either raising movement only of said holder or both raising and lowering movements thereof.

11. In a dipping mechanism, a travelling carrier, a work-carrying arm rotatably associated therewith, and a work holder carried by said arm, means to partially rotate said arm to raise the work holder and maintain it in raised position, and means to thereafter effect the completion of the rotation of the arm to lower the work holder to its initial position.

12. In a clipping mechanism, a frame, a travelling carrier on the frame, a rotary work-supporting arm associated therewith, means at one point on the frame to effect a partial rotation of said arm to raised position, means to maintain said arm in raised position during the travel of the carrier, and means at a point on the frame spaced from said first named point to engage the arm and effect continued rotation thereof to lower the work into the bath.

13. In a dipping mechanism, a frame, a travelling carrier on the frame, a rotary work-carrying arm associated with said carrier for horizontal travel, means to effect rotation of said arm, and

said means being adjustable to vary the angle through which said arm is rotated, andmeans to support said arm for horizontal travel when rotated through a predetermined angle.

14. In a dipping mechanism, a frame, a travelling carrier on the frame, a rotary work-carrying arm associated with said carrier for horizontal travel, means to effect. rotation of said arm, said m ans being divided into sections, and certain of said sections being movable to inoperative position to vary the angle through which the arm is rotated.

15'. In a dipping mechanism, a frame, a travelling carrier on the frame, a rotary work-carrying arm associated with said carrier for horizontal travel, means to effect rotation of said arm, said means comprising apinion on said arm, and a rack on the frame, the effective length of said rack being variable to vary the angle through which the arm is rotated.

16. In a dipping mechanism, a frame,'a travelling carrier associated with said frame, workholding arms rotatablycarried by said carrier for horizontal and rotary movements, means to rotate said arms through a partial revolution, a support above said carrier, and means on said rotatable arms engaging said support to maintain the arms in raised position, while being moved horizontally by the carrier.

17. In a dipping mechanism, a frame, a travelling carrier thereon, work-holding arms movably assooiated with said carrier for horizontal travelling movement, and for rotation in a vertical plane, a series of tanks below the carrier, and means for moving said arms to dip the work in said tanks or to transport it thereover as desired, said means comprising pinions on said arms and sectional racks on the frame to cooperate therewith, and said rack sections being adjustable to effect complete or partial rotation of the arms.

18. In a dipping mechanism, a frame, a travelling carrier on said frame, a work-holding member associated with said carrier for travelling movement, a current-carrying member supported by'the frame and making contact with said 126 work-holding member, and a two part clamp member partially embracing said current-carry ing member to support the same whereby a part of said current-carrying member is exposed to contact with the work-holding member and is rotatable in its supportto vary the point of contact.

19. In a dipping mechanism, a frame, a travelling carrier associated with the frame, a workholding member associated with said carrier, a current-carrying member supported by the frame and designed to make contact with said workholding member, said current-carrying member being circular in cros's-sectionand being rotatable in its supporting means to vary the point of 135 contact, and a releasable clamping device for holding said current-carrying member in adjusted position with a part thereof exposed to engage the work-holding member.

20. In a dipping device, a travelling carrier, rotary work-supporting members associated with saidcarrier and adapted to be moved vertically the carrier into and out of operative position,v

and said supporting means also being adjustable longitudinally of the carrier to extend the efiec-i tive length of said means.

22. In a dipping niecha'nism a frame, an endless travelling carrier supported on the frame,

work-holding members movably associated with said carrier and adapted to be moved to raise and lower the work during the travel thereof, supporting members mounted on the frame lengthwise of the carrier to engage the workholding members and support them in raised position, and said supporting members extending around an end of the frame and being adjustable longitudinally.

23. In a dipping mechanism, a frame,- a travelling carrier on said frame, a work-holding member associated with said carrier for travelling movement, a' current-carrying member supported by the frame and making frictional contact with said work-holding member, one of said members being rotatable to vary the point of con-tact, and means for adjusting the position of the work-holding member toward and from the current-carrying member to vary the frictional contact therebetween.

ALBERT WILLIAM BITTER. 

